Cloud
Gate Theatre of Taiwan - 'Moon Water'by Holly Messitt -- November 21,
2003There were long periods during the troupe’s
performance at the Brooklyn Academy of Music that I sat lost in
the movement of the dancers. The prolonged ending especially
captivated me as I listened to water running over the stage
and...
read more...

Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker/ROSAS
- 'Rain'by Jenai Cutcher
November 15, 2003Seven women and three men directed by
Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker, eleven chords composed for eighteen
musicians by Steve Reich, a packed audience in the BAM Howard
Gilman Opera House, and it begins to "Rain." read
more...

Inbal
Pinto Dance Company - 'Boobies'by Lyndsey Winship
November 5, 2003 -- Brighton Dome, BrightonIn her past works, Israeli choreographer Inbal
Pinto has shown a natural flair for comic dance theatre. Hearing
the title of her third show to tour the UK, "Boobies," you might
have assumed that she was continuing in the same vein. But it
isn't what you think. read more...

Russell Maliphant Company - 'One Part II', 'Two',
'Choice'by Lyndsey Winship
25 October 2003 -- Queen Elizabeth Hall/LondonRussell Maliphant understands that
creating a performance means much more than raising the curtain
and letting your dancers do their thing. He chooses to explore
the breadth of possibilities in bringing movement to the
stage.
read more...

Rosas - 'Once'by Jurate Terleckaite
October 23, 2003 -- Robin Howard Theatre, The Place,
LondonAppreciations and views: that I heard about Anne
Teresa de Keersmaeker's eccentricity, strict approach and
self-centredness awakened my curiosity and I have decided to come
to London to see her dancing.read
more...

Ballett
Frankfurt - 'Kammer/Kammer'by Ramsay Burt
October 22-25, 2003 -- Sadler's Wells, LondonFor me the most immediate and exciting
things about “Kammer/Kammer” were, first, the
performances by Dana Caspersen and Anthony Rizzi, and second, the
sheer craftsmanship with which this otherwise highly fragmented
multimedia production was put together.
read more..

'La
Bayadere'
by Julie Gervais
October 30, 2003-- Detroit Opera House,
Detroit, MI" The cohesiveness of their port de bras,
the hyper-articulation of their feet, the sets and costumes that
are over the moon -- those things are a given before you even
consider the incredible dancing and dramatic energy."
read more...

Letter from the
EditorsMice are scurrying,
snowflakes are flurrying, and the writers at Ballet-Dance Monthly
are predicting visions of sugar plums at just about every ballet
company around. Yes, the holidays are upon us and with them come
not only countless Nutcrackers, but also time for
reflection, giving thanks, and, well, a little
indulgence.

B-Dm has been
reflecting on dance worldwide: Emma Pegler on the legacy of
Martha Graham and the recent historic events of her company,
Holly Messitt on Susan Marshall’s rendering of Sleeping
Beauty, and Jeff Kuo on Nutcracker Nation, a new
book by Jennifer Fisher.

Stuart Sweeney
expresses his appreciation for The Place, this month’s
focus, Cynthia Harvey speaks with gratitude about her life in
ballet thus far, and it is clear that all the participants in the
CriticalDance forum are thankful for the roles that dance plays
in their lives.

And just like sitting
around the Christmas tree with piles of gifts or stuffing
ourselves with turkey and trimmings, Ballet-Dance is heaping it
on. Where else can you get multiple perspectives on the same
performance? Can’t get enough of your favorite company?
Track Rosas, Cloud Gate Theatre of Taiwan, and more as reactions
filter in from every city on their tours.

We are always
thankful for your participation. Please post your comments in our
Magazine Feedback Discussion Topic in the CriticalDance
forum. If dance has inspired you lately, now’s the time to
connect, share, and spread the good energy around. Like what you
see here? Spread that, too – our site makes a great email
stocking stuffer that any friend would love to discover. And, if
you want the magazine delivered right to your inbox, subscribe
!

Happy Holidays,

The
Editors of Ballet-Dance Monthly

Coming
up...· Marie Chouinard at
the Joyce·Dance Theatre of Harlem on
tour· Parsons Dance Co. in
Philadelphia·Holiday
roundups·More reviews·More
features

reviews

Philadanco - Fall Concert Seriesby Lewis Whittington
November 20-22, 2003 -- Perelman Theater, The Kimmel Center for
the Performing Arts, PhiladelphiaZollar’s trilogy, inspired by
the graceful saunters of Jamaican women, of course, has much more
than just walking. In fact, it has everything from quicksilver
Afro-Caribbean skips to the most salacious pelvic grinds.
read more...

National Ballet of China - 'Raise the Red Lantern'by Rosella Simonari
November 2003 -- Sadler's Wells, LondonWhat is flame red against
petrol blue? Definitely a profound contrast, definitely a
powerful contrast. These two colours meet at the beginning of
"Raise the Red Lantern", the rich and innovative National Ballet
of China's latest work.
read more...

Kenneth Kvarnström & Co. -
'Fragile'by Andre Yew
November 12, 2003 -- Campbell Hall, UC Santa
Barbara
... Cilla Olsen's hands were especially beautiful
and clear even in the fastest parts --- somewhat like those
ballet dancers whose petite allegro is very fast, but somehow all
of the positions of the feet and legs are still very clear
instead of blurred.
read more...

Teatro Kismet OperA - 'Gilgamesh
'by Rosella Simonari
November 7, 2003 -- Kismet Theatre, Bari, ItalyIn a time outside of time, a man translucent in
his raw skin attempts to fly ... he looks for immortality and the
pair of silverlike, small wings he holds and shakes do not seem
to be able to help him ...
read more...

Boston Ballet - 'Don Quixote'by S.E. Arnold
November 1, 2003 -- Wang Theater, BostonFrom a reflective distance, however, one finds in
the crowd of Romantic-era references of his "Don Quixote" clues
to the enduring appeal of this transfiguring as well as
melancholy Knight. read more...

Pennsylvania Ballet -
'Dracula'by Lewis Whittington
October 30 - November 8, 2003 -- Academy of Music,
PhiladelphiaConceived in 1997 by
Houston Ballet's Ben Stevenson to commemorate the 100th
anniversary of Bram Stoker's psychosexual thriller that not only
scandalized London society, but created one of the most evil and
campy characters in literature and film, if not dance-theater. read more...

Kenneth Kvarnström - 'Fragile'by Toba Singer
October 30, 2003 -- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San
FranciscoKenneth Kvarnström brings us superbly
trained, nubile dancers, who work through this hour-long piece
with an earnest concentration that does not obstruct feelings of
genuine enjoyment of each other or the choreography.
read more...

Paris
Opera Ballet -
'Clavigo'by
Cassandra
October 27-28, 2003 -- Palais Garnier, ParisClairemarie Osta looked
just about ideal ... Osta is the newest of the Paris
etoiles and this was the first time I had seen her in a
major role. I was impressed..read more...

Peeter Jalakas and Sasha Pepelyaev - 'Swan
Lake’by Tiit Tumalu
January - February 2003 -- Kanuti Gildi Saal, Talinn (revived
November 2003)The fact that those who attempted the
coup d'état in August 1991, when the tanks rolled in the
streets of Moscow, decided to broadcast “The Swan
Lake” was not by chance.
read more...

Martha Graham
Dance Company

Martha Graham: A Legacy of Danceby Francis Timlin
October 2003 -- Kane Hall, SeattleCapucilli recalled that Martha Graham wanted to
be known and remembered only as a dancer. She read the full text
of Graham's testament, "I Am A Dancer." Paraphrasing from that
testament, she stated that Graham spent eight decades "choosing
not to fall."
read more...

Martha Graham Dance Company - 'Satyric Festival
Song'by Rosella Simonari
November 2003 -- Sadler's Wells, LondonThe costume, an elastic tube of stripy
textures sewed together, pieces of the self, pieces of movements
intertwined with the woman's body, be her the blond or the dark
one. Shoulders left exposed to the hair's whipping and
beating.
read more...